A new American dream: A look at one couple's off-grid lifestyle in the American Redoubt

Jean Olson has been living her own version of the American dream for the past 23 years.

She bought her 10 acres of land in the hills of Bonner County,Idaho, for just over $40,000. Included in the price was a working well and a partially finished A-frame cabin with no heat or electricity.

She's been living off the grid and loving it ever since. She's unplugged from the hustle and bustle of the modern world andworks just a dozen hours a week, gardening and cleaning homes, to make ends meet.

"I have lived without power for 23 years, I do have solar within the last seven years. I refuse to be collared bythe idea thatI can't have something because I have no money, so I find ways to create it from nothing."

Take a tour of an off-grid cabin in the American Redoubt

8 years ago

Duration 6:24

A tour of an off-grid cabin in Bonner County, Idaho.

Cutting costs and living a more sustainable lifestyleare the big reasonsOlson decided to live in such a remote spotin the Pacific Northwest, a region that's become the homeof choice for many folks who believe in self-reliance and being prepared for disasters, both natural and man-made.

In fact, thismovement has a name, the American Redoubt, and its mapincludes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and parts of eastern Washington and Oregon.

Its members hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Variety of concerns

Olson, for example,says she's worriedabout the changes she's noticed with the weather.

"We have had these two hurricane-level winds that we haven't seen in 20 years, we have had a drought for the last five years you know, the well water is affected."

But shefeels she'sbest prepared to meet those challenges here in the Redoubt,where she'sused to dealing with the elements and producing much of her own food and water.

Her fianc Glen Martin's concerns are also green in nature,but they have little to do with the environment. Martin believes Americans and their government have borrowed too muchmoney for too long and an economic collapse is imminent.

"The economy is heavy on my list, a big priority, what is happening with our economy and our government, you know what is going to happen with our grocery stores, our chain of supply."

Martinlives with Olson part of the time and believes the coupleis best equippedto deal with an economic collapse onthisremote property in the woods.

"Living a more self-sufficient lifestyle you kind of prepare for these situations, you either stock up with food or you have food or are raising food, so not quite the concern."

Off the grid but online

And Martin isn't just preparing for a potentially darkerfuture,he's helping others to do the same. His website, prepperbroadcasting.com, hostspodcastson everything from canning goods to tips for survivingnatural disasters.

• Video: 360-degree tour of Jean Olson's off-grid cabin(best viewed in YouTube or Facebook app)

Martin says he now has more than 250,000 downloads a month, up from 100,000 just two years ago.He's convinced that's because a growing number of Americans areworried about the future, a sentiment he believes is partlyfuelledby thecontentious and divisive U.S. presidential election.

"What is going to happen to our economy, what is going to happen after November 9th?It is going to give, it is not a question of if, it is a question of when and I see it coming and I see it coming soon."

• A look inside the American Redoubt movement
• Off grid and in demand: Selling property in the Redoubt